Haider aiming for UAE World Cup dream spot

Denzil Pinto 08:39 06/09/2014
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  • Grabbing the opportunity with both hands: Wicketkeeper Saqlain Haider.

    Uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Saqlain Haider has vowed to do all he can in the next four months in fulfilling his dream of playing at a World Cup with the UAE.

    Haider is part of the 15-man squad that embarks on a three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand tomorrow.

    The tour, organised by the ICC and part of the High Performance Programme (HPP), is to help the UAE and qualifiers Ireland, Scot­land, and Afghanistan for next year’s showpiece.

    During the tour, the UAE will play six one-day matches against state and provincial teams as well as Papua New Guinea, giving UAE coach Aaqib Javed the opportunity to examine his squad ahead of the World Cup.

    Haider became eligible to play for the UAE after residing in the coun­try for four years. And by excelling with the gloves and bat with his team, UBL, on the domestic circuit, he impressed Javed.

    “I’m very proud and happy to be selected for the UAE team; it’s a big honour for me,” said Haider.

    He added: “It’s my goal and dream to play in a World Cup. I want to do all I can to improve my abilities and try my best to be selected for the World Cup squad.”

    At 26, Haider is the youngest member of the squad. With Javed saying he wanted to take the squad that would likely play next year, the former Phoenix Medicines player acknowledges the hard work starts now to be selected for the World Cup Down Under.

    “I’m really committed to work hard and give it my all,” said the right-handed batsman.

    “The team has been training re­ally hard and the coaching team is really making us work hard.

    Haider says he has thoroughly enjoyed his time working with his new team-mates during training.

    He said: “There are some very experienced players like Khurram Khan and Shaiman Anwar. I felt a little bit nervous at first to be play­ing with these players, but they have given me a lot of support and really welcomed me.”

    Speaking of Haider, Javed said: “He’s fit, he’s got good stamina, is really focused and very useful with the bat. He’s a good wicketkeeper, who can really bat in the middle or­der and I like his temperament and concentration, which is remarkable given his young age.”

    Of the tour, Javed said: “We want them to the learn the conditions of Australia and New Zealand. Once the players get used to that, it will then give them confidence.

    “We’ve done really hard work so far in training and the team is get­ting better.

    “This tour will be a good way to learn how far we’ve come and what we need to work on.”

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